The first Formula 1 qualifying session of the year has been and gone, with a familiar result in the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s sixth straight Australian Grand Prix pole position.
But how has each team fared since 12 months ago? Motorsport Week takes a look at the figures.
The Front-Runners
On both occasions a spellbinding Hamilton pole lap is the benchmark which the others are chasing. In 2018 a then-lap record time of 1:21.164s gave Hamilton top spot but in 2019 that was lowered to a 1:20.486, giving him a year-on-year time gain of 0.678s.
That is comparable with Ferrari; last year Kimi Raikkonen edged Sebastian Vettel but in 2019 the German got the measure of new team-mate Charles Leclerc, and the respective best laps have resulted in a time gain of 0.638s.
Red Bull, meanwhile, found 0.559s year-on-year, with Max Verstappen’s Q3 efforts the fastest laps on each occasion, suggesting that Honda power is well and truly in the mix for 2019.
The Midfield
Year-on-year Alfa Romeo has found the largest gain, with its 2019 car 2.242s faster than the package which graced the scene at the start of 2018. The caveat with this is the fact that Sauber started on the back foot in 2018, with a debutant and the dependable-but-not-rapid Marcus Ericsson, whereas in 2019 ex-World Champion Kimi Raikkonen piloted the car.
Toro Rosso has the second-biggest gain, having unearthed 1.896s, while Haas, McLaren and Racing Point have all found similar gains, on 1.361s, 1.293s and 1.224s respectively. Haas solidified its position at the front of the midfield – as it did in Australia in 2018 – while Lando Norris’ effort was enough for Q3, compared to the team’s Q2 exit in 2018.
Renault was the least-improved midfield team, although it still uncovered 0.970s year-on-year, but dropped out in Q2, proving a disappointment for home fans.
Williams
Oh dear. Williams was not the slowest team 12 months ago but gradually regressed through the field amid struggles with its FW41.
This year has not started well. George Russell’s best effort was 0.130s slower than Lance Stroll’s 2018 lap, meaning Williams is the only team whose 2019 car – at this stage – is slower than its 2018 package.
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